Air Travel Secrets you probably didn’t know

You may be someone who frequently travels by plane, whether it is for business or pleasure, however you probably haven’t heard of these air travel secrets before…

#1 Airlines actually lie about their flight times. Have you been on a flight when it says it’ll be 2 hours long but as soon as you take off the pilot announces you’ll arrive in 1 hour 30 minutes? This is a tactic airlines use to improve their arrival statistics.

#2 There are almost 10 000 planes in the air right now. On average, there are about 9 728 planes in the sky at one time – check out the website FlightAware.

#3 That is not duct tape on the plane. It can be terrifying to look out the window and see what looks like duct tape holding the plane together. Don’t worry it’s actually high-tech Speed Tape, which can stay in place even at speeds over 500 mph.

#4 The shortest flight is only 1 minute long. Don’t expect any snacks to be served when you travel from Westray to Papa Westray, as it is the shortest commercial flight at just 1 minute long, however it can be flown in as little as 53 seconds.

#5 Air traffic controllers are paid well. They may be the people on the ground, but they are the ones making sure the planes don’t crash into each other!  The job requires intense concentration and is very stressful.

Did you know about these?

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What does an Air Traffic Controller do?

As the name suggests, an air traffic controller is in charge of traffic, in and around the airport, and maintains communication with pilots, appraising them with vital information. They also perform several other duties which ensure aircraft safety in the air and on the ground.

The air traffic controller position is one of the most important job profiles in the airline industry. They are responsible for the safety of an aircraft and all its passengers. People working in this field work long hard hours and the job can become very stressful at times!

This job carries a lot of responsibility, as you are in charge of the safety of passengers, crew, and expensive aircraft. The job is kind of like being a traffic cop, standing at a junction. They are responsible for the smooth flow of traffic, without any accidents. One of the primary functions of the controller is to make sure that landing strips are free for aircraft landing and taking off. To ensure this, they must always have constant communication with the aircraft on the ground and in the air. They use advanced telecommunication systems to do their job effectively.

They will also stay in touch with the weather services and the air traffic control centres for information on weather conditions like wind, rain, snow, etc. In cases of bad weather, they will assist pilots in safely landing the aircraft, by providing vital information, and preparing the ground crew for any emergencies.

They will also monitor air traffic with the help of radar, from a screen in the control tower. The controller will use the radar screen to chart a safe and correct flight path for aircraft approaching and leaving the airport.

He will also provide assistance to pilots for in-flight emergencies, related to technical difficulties or related to passengers. For example, if a passenger has health problems on board, the controller will facilitate a priority landing and make sure that emergency medical services are available on the ground. A few air traffic controllers will also be in charge of charting safe and congestion-free flight plans to prevent in-air collisions and ensure smooth passage of aircraft.

That the job carries great responsibility is probably a huge understatement, considering the nature of the work. The profession commands high respect. If you are looking to make a career in this profession, you need to have personal qualities like patience, ability to interpret data quickly, and excellent communication skills.

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